The Soldier

The Soldier is the first novel in the Rise of the Jain series, by bestselling science fiction author Neal Asher.A hidden corner of space is swarming with lethal alien technology, a danger to all sentient life. It's guarded by Orlandine, whose mission is to ensure it stays contained - at all costs. Living aboard a state-of-the-art weapons station, she watches over technology designed to destroy entire civilizations. However, she's hatching a plan to obliterate it, removing the threat forever. It was created by the Jain, a long-dead race, and forces are on the move who'll do anything to unleash their last secrets. Meanwhile, humanity's galactic territories and the alien Prador Empire watch this sector of space with interest, as neither can allow the other to claim its power. However, things are about to change, the Jain might not be as dead as they seem and interstellar war is never far away.